While many Arsenal fans breathed a sigh of relief that Lucas Torreira's chances of leaving the club subsided following AC Milan's European ban, a Gunners legend is still fearful of losing the midfielder.

Torreira has been courted by the Serie A giants, who are now managed by the 23-year-old's former Sampdoria boss Marco Giampaolo - but with the suspension from Europe, initial interest is thought to have cooled from Italy.

However, despite Torreira failing to demand a move, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour is concerned the player could still leave north London, due to his family failing to settle in the capital.

Read More

Speaking exclusively to football.london Arsenal icon Parlour still believes the club could face big problems in attempting to keep the Uruguayan international happy and content in north London, and pointed to the problems Manchester United faced.

(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

"It is difficult when your family don’t settle in a place.

"We've seen it at Manchester United with Angel Di Maria - when he signed up his family wasn’t really happy and you’ve got to make sure your family is happy. It makes you play better if I’m being honest.

"You haven’t got to worry about them if they’re happy and content - so I’m really hoping they will be fine - because he's an excellent player after the form he showed when he first turned up."

Blues defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko found his first team ambitions dented by the news the Croatian will feature in the position under Frank Lampard.

(Image: Getty Images)

Bakayoko spent last season on loan at the San Siro and could decide to make the agreement permanent after slipping further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge - further reducing the Rossoneri's need for Torreria.

Read More

The Uruguayan played 34 Premier League matches, scoring two goals and adding two assists, while his defensive discipline and excellent positioning allied with his natural tenacity, saw him win a large number of his tackles and blocks.

However, towards the end of the season Torreira lost form which saw boss Emery prefer Matteo Guendouzi in his place for the Europa League semi-final clash against Valencia at the Emirates, despite the head coach insisting before the match the Uruguayan was fit.

Yet, Emery restored Torreira for the second leg at the Mestalla, in a revealing indication of how the Gunners boss views the natural pecking order of the position alongside Granit Xhaka.

(Image: football.london)

Parlour also believes Torreira is a crucial player for Arsenal, agreeing the player went off the boil at the business end of the campaign.

"He just went off the boil a little bit towards the end of the season," he said.

"But he showed in that first part of the campaign when he signed that he’s a quality player - and certainly he’s the sort of player you need in that midfield."

The Gunners legend was speaking at the launch of the new Arsenal kit . Buy it here

Read More

Keep up to date with the latest Arsenal news, features and exclusives from football.london via our free WhatsApp service .

Click here to enroll or text NEWS to 07557204612 and then add the number to your phone contacts book as arsenal dot london (case sensitive, with spaces) to receive daily updates and breaking news from Layth Yousif and the team on Arsenal.

Your phone number won't be shared with any other members of the group. Click here for more information on the service.